F 

144- 
CsLs 





Class. 
Book 



COPYRIGHT DEPCSII 



E. W. THORNTON, 

HOUSE FURNISHING GOODS, 

Opera House Block, - Cranford, N. J. 

The Best Goods at Low Prices. 



THE STMDJIRD PUBLISHING CONCERN. PRIVATE SCHOOL For 

„ . ^ ^ o u,- u YOUNG LADIES, MISSES, AND CHILDREN. 

Printers and Publishers, - ^.^ p^y, /,„„,,^,;, m,ss vv,ng, ^.o. Pn«. 

vir-»w ir-nonv ' Mile. LE PAGE, Fteitck. 

NEW JERSEY. . ^ , ^ », » 

Union Avenue, - Cranford, New Jersey. 



WESTFIELD. 



DIEDRICH KREIE, MOORE & MARTIN, BENBOW FERGUSON, 

Contractor and Builder, I^MM McatS, FiSh, aild Vegetables, "^6 Franklin Ave, - Brooklyn, N. Y. 
Cranford, - NEW JERSEY. ; MILLER BLOCK, (Contractor and tS^iilder, 



p^* Builder of the Morrison. Banker, and Bennett ] 
residences, the Presbyterian Church, and the Cranford 
Country* Club, herein illustrated. 

TOWNSEND'S GRANITE WORKS, 

30 & 32 SOMERSET ST„ 

It'g employ no Agents to drum trade, and personally 
attend to this tvork in all its branches. 



CRANFORD. NEIV JERSEY. 
W. W. MENDELL, 



' Builder of the Purcell residence Csee page 12). 



HAVE YOUR CARPET CLEANED 



CONTRACTOR AND BUILDER, Old Reliable steam carpet Cleaning works, 

CRANFORD, NEW JERSEY. ' ,,,s.JS>^^..^.:.^^^S!iB^TH. n. j. 

E^ Builder of the Cochian and Parvin residences, and I j^- Altering and Laying Carpels and Furniture Up- 
•• Hampton Hall." as herein illustrated, and scores of other ' bolstering, Specialties. No extra charge for work out of 
buildings in Cranford and vicinity. i city. 



DAVID B. LENT, Real Estate, Insurance, Loans, Etc., 

OPERA HOUSE BLOCK, - - CRANFORD, NEW JERSEY. 

CDCPin I nCCUD • ^^^ sale.— The Lent residence (see pages lO and 12). A Complete Suburban Home on high ground at Cranford. 
UlLuinL UrrLrV, AU improvements. Private Gas, City Water, Furnace and Steam Heat, etc. Lot 125 x 160. Price Sio,ooo. Easy 

terms. N. B. — This place cannot be duplicated for the money. Possession given at any time. 



■ W. W. GILBY, 

WESTFIELD, - NEW JERSEY. 

I CIIN SAVE YOU 25^ ON GROCERIES. 

Se.nd Your Order by Mail. 
prompt deuvery free of charge. 



C. A. SMITH & CO., 

LUMBER MD MASON MATERIAL, 
», Doors, Moldings, Tnrmg.anl Scroll sawiog. 

Agents for Lister's Botie Fertilizers. 
WESTFIELD. - NEW JERSEY. 

W. H. SMITH S CO.. 

STONE-CUTTERS 



THE SANDFORD CLARK CO, I R- »• shove, 

^ WESTFIELD PHARMACY. 

MASONS' rlATERIALS, Drugs, Medicines, and Toilet Articles, Ice 
ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY. 

CENTRAL HOTEL, 

PETER FINGER, Proprietor, 

CRANFORD, N. J. 

CHOICE LIQDORS, WINES, CIGARS, Etc. 



Cream Soda, Strawberry and Peach Crush. 

Cor. BROAD & PROSPECT STS. 

Mounted Maps of Cranford. 

Maps similar to the "Souvenir Map," mounted 
on wooden rollers, etc., and suitable for hanging 
in office, residence, or store. May be had at 
"Souvenir Office." Room 8. Opera House Block. 

Price 50 Cents Each. 



ESTABLISHED 1867 . 

ROBERT RINDELL, 



STONE-MASONS. 

Office: Cor. Pearl and Warren Sts,, 
PLAINFiELD, NEW JERSEY. 

Estimates given on all kinds of Stone Work, 
from Foreign and Domestic Stock. We carry a 
heavy lot of Stone for Bridge and Cellar Work. 



DE.\LER IN 



HIRAM L FINK, 

Manufacturer of 

FINE CARRIAGES. WAGONS, I SLEIGHS. 

Dealer in 

Harness, Blankets, Robes, Whips, etc. 
ELM STREET. - WESTFIELD. N. J. 



COAL MP LUMBER, 

Drain Pipe, Lime, Lath, Plaster, Etc., 
CRANFORD. N. J. 

PHILIP JAHN, 

PAINTER AND DECORATOR, 

CRANFORD AND ROSELLE, N. J. 
PAPER HANGING A SPECIAL TY. 

JOHN INGRAM, 

SANITARY PLUMBING, 

Steam and Gas Fitting, Tin, Copper, 
and Sheet Iron Worker, Stoves, 

Ranges, Home Furnishing Goods, etc. 
WESTFIELD, NEW JERSEY. 



JAMES G. MOORE. 

MASON AND CONTRACTOR 

Cranford, New Jersey. 

Artutic Stone IVork a Specialty. Conlraiior 

for tnasonrj/ in most o/the bousi^ 

herein illmlrated. 

HENRY A. RATH, Jr., 

CONTRACTOR FOR 

PLUMBING & HEATING, 

Cranford, - New Jersey. 

Contractor for work in residences of J. W. Banker, Jos 
PurcelL '' Hampton Hall," and dozens of other buildings 
in Cranford. 

HENRY MILLER, 
Practical Electrician, 

WESTFIELD. N. J. 
ll'iring for Electric Lighting a Specialty. 



Copyright, 1894, BV Frank T. Lent. 



CRANFORD SOUVENIR. 




RESIDENCE G. A. MORRISON", ESQ. 



GEOGRAPHICALLY Cranford, New Jersey, is 
situated southwesterly from New Yoik Cit}-, about 
seventeen miles distant, and on the southern slope of 
the Orange Mountains. It is almost directly south of 
Summit and Short Hills, and about five miles distant 
from either of these places. Elizabeth is directly east 
five miles away, Pl.iinfield directly west seven miles 
away, and Railway to the south about five miles off. 
The Rahway River, an extremely picturesque little 
stream, winds its way gracefully around through the 
village and is spanned by seven or eight bridges. 
Cranfortl is in Union County, New Jersey, the county 
renowned for its magnificent macadamized and Tel- 
ford roads. The Central Railroad of New Jersey runs 
directly through the town, and is the principal con- 
necting link between it and the metropolis of New 
York. The Lehigh Vallc\- Railroad runs through the 
southern part of the township, but is yet little used by 
the commuters and business men. The population of 
the town is about twentv-five hundred. 



PROFESSOR GEORGE H. COOK, late State 
geologist, once said that the red soil and red shale 
districts of New Jersey were its healthiest sections. 
Geologically, therefore, Nature has done all that could 
be done for the health of Cranford in this matter. But 
while Nature has given Cranford the foundation of a 
good, healthy soil, that gift is rcalK- nothing in com- 








RESIDENCE PETER DUMONT, ESQ. 



CRANFORD SOUVENIR. 



parison to the magnanimdus kiiulness which she has 
displa_\'ijd in tlevcloping tiic \illage surroundings into 
the most picturesque to be found around any of the 
liundreds of towns suburban to New York. The coun- 
try is siiglitly rolh'ng, is well grown with shade trees, 
and well carpeted with a lu.xuriant growth of wild 
flowers. 




RESIDENCE GEO. W. NIX, ESQ. 

A COUNTRY home is perhaps the most satisfac- 
tory for a residence one can possibly acquire. 
There is more substance and solidity to be found in 
suburban life — to say nothing of better and more air, 
more light, more room, and more quiet comfort — than 
in the narrow residence of the city, with its minimum 
of light, its impure atmosphere, and ceaseless noise. 
Taking all these matters into consideration, and then 
adding the fact that a city house in a good neighbor- 
hood costs several times as much as a country house 
equally well located, it is easy to see why our country, 
and especially our suburban, towns are rapidly building 
up. To business men of large cities the daily travel to 
and fi'o is disagreeable — at least until the habit is 
formed. It takes about a month to get used to this. 
In large cities the transit is so slow that one can go 
twenty miles away from town on a good railway quite 
as quickly as three or four miles are traversed by 
street railway, so that no time is lost and the cost of 
travel to and from near Ijv towns is but little different. 
When one thinks of the health secured, of the addi- 
tional charms of a country house, of country life, and 
of the money sa\'ed, it is really no wonder that people 
are turning their attention to suburban residences. 



There is now a steady and increasing flow of people 
from the larger cities to the neighboring country, inde- 
pendent of the fashion of city people of spending a 
few months or weeks at their country i^laccs. These 
are the reasons why country towns are growing, anil 
Cranford, with its natural charms, its healthfulness, its 
nearness to New York, and its many improvements, is 
one of the foremost to attract attention and secure its 
share of the many sensible people who are seeking a 
first-class village in which to locate. 

TI IM town is built on high ground lying one hun- 
dred or more feet above tide water, which eleva- 
tion is sufificient to raise it above the banks of 
malaiial fog which gather and cling with a sickl_\^ grip 
to the lower lands of New Jersey. The Orange Moun- 
tains, a few miles to the north, act as a sheltering wall 
against the north and northwest winds, and the steady 
southwest wind which prevails in summer renders the 
atmosphere delightfully cool. No one ever thinks of 
lying awake nights because of excessive heat. 



-..^<«v t ;/ 







I jtintiiiMiinir 




RESIDENCE IIENRICH IMHORST, ESQ. 



CRANFORD SOUVENIR. 



3 



C RAN FORD possesses to-day more improvements 
tlian any of the suburban towns of the same size; 
Its capital water supply; its fire department; its 
electric liglitcd streets; the abundance of good 
country roads; the fact of its being out of debt ; and 
the class of buildings now built and being built both 
for business and residence purposes. The amount 
of buikling for the year i(Sg3 reached more than 
the good round sum of $200,000, and this sum was 
equaled, even though times were hard, during the 
year 1893. In i8g4 the investment in building ought 
to reach $250,000. Arriving at the station the first 
building which attracts attention is the large brick 
business block where the greater part of Cranford's 
business is done. The event which marked the era of 
1892 was the building of this Opera House Block, 
which building affords ample accommodation for 
eight shopkeepers, the post office, a dozen and a 
h<ilf fine business offices, one of the [irivate schools, 
a barber's shop, a magnificent suite of lodge rooms, 
and lastly, that which everyone in Cranford is very 



proud of, namely, its Opera House or Music Hall, in 
which the majority of the larger entertainments take 
place. The Opera House Block was built at a cost 
of some fifty odd thousantl tlollars. It is a thor- 
oughly equipped building, being heatetl throughout 
by steam, lighted by electricity, well arranged, well 
ventilated, and well kept. 

MR. JAMES RODGERS, who two years ago, at 
the head of a syndicate of New York gentlemen, 
l)urchased the property directly opposite the station 
and built the Opera House Block, a sketch of a part 
of which is shown on the cover, has recently pur- 
chased the large and beautifid tract, " Roosevelt 
Manor," comprising some two hundred of the best 
building lots on the high ground of Cranford, and 
is prepared to build on these lots or sell them. 
This offers a splendid opportunity for investment 
and building. 

THE Opera House is managed by Edward Beadle, 
who every fortnight or so secures a good com- 
pany to produce a play. 




RESIDENCE JAMES RODGERS, ESQ., CLAREMONT I'LACE. 



CRANFORD SOUVENIR. 







THE churches are of denomination 
as follows: Presbyterian, Episcopal, 
Methodist, and Catholic. The Presby- 
terian people are about to move into 
their new church, which will olfer ample 
accommodation to that growing congre- 
gation. The Presbyterian Church was 
organized in 1851, and the original church 
edifice was a little frame building with 
a seating capacity of one hundrctl. In 
1868 it was rennned to the reai of the 
site now occupied and used as a chapel. 
About a year ago the present edifice, as 
shown by the cut, was begun. In it will 
be seating accommodation for six hun- 
dred, arranged in the stj-le of an am- 

l)liitheater. The cost of the present 'Ll/ i i'^ltT^ "■'"f j r^ft^''^ 
church will be about twenty-five thou- 
sand dollars. The Rev. G. F. Greene was 
installed in 1885. A year ago, when the 

present building was begun, there was ''■-'?:Si'T^^''^'^'^'^^','^-0S:^'^ 
not a pemi}- of indebtedness against the 
church. It is confidently expected that 
in the near future the church will again 
be entircl_\' free from debt. A number 
of memorial wimlows ornament the \\c\\ 

building; among those honored being Josiah Crane, ■ service held in the church was in February, 1S76, Dr. 
one of the founders of the church, J. .S. Williams, Langford, then rector of St. John's, Elizabeth, ofificiat- 
\V. U. Wood, Henry H. Cowan, the Rev. .V. A. ing. The church was consecrated on the l6th of 
MacConnell, and .Mrs. Phoebe Rindell. 




^'^■m». 






'. ■■.■.w\ ■■■^^ 'JS v^- _W'" 



THE NEW rRESIiVTERIAX CHCRCU. 



T 



October, 1 88 1, b\- the Right Re\-. John Scarborough. 
HE first service of Trinity Church was held in The Revs. E. M. Reilly, J. 11. Young, W. C. Roberts, 



iS/i at the residence of IMrs. Mills, and for nearly 
two years thereafter Sunday services were held at 
private lesidences and at the schoolhouse whenever a 
clergyman could be procuretl to ofificiatc. The church 
was organized in 1873, and subscriptions made to erect 
a church building. The foundation was laid, the 
building erected and inclosed the same year; then 
work stopped for lack of funds, and the building stood 
unfinished for about two years. In 1875 bonds were 



William Ileaks, Floyd E. West, and John Etlgecumbe 
liave been rectors of this parish — the latter being the 
present rector. 

TH IL Methoilist Chuich. like man\- others, began 
\\ith a .Sunda_\- School. In April. 1S61, a Meth- 
odist Episcopal Sunday School was organized, and in 
1862 the corner stone of the chapel was laid, and the 
chapel was dedicated in 1863. Until 1868 this organi- 
zation was cared for by the pastors of the \\'estfield 



issued to the amount of fi\e thousand dollars, and with M. E. Church. The first pastor was the Rev. R. P. 

tile money thus obtained the church was completed — Christopher. In 1869 the corner stone of the church 

the chancel window, Trinity wimlow, all the pews, and I was laid on the Walnut Avenue site. In 1870 the 

a [ifjrtion of the chancel furniture having been pro- ! chapel was moved on this lot, and in 1871 the 

cured from a disbanded church in Westfield. The first church was dedicated. Among the pastors have been : 







CRANFORD SOUVENIR. 









"Sill t}f;'K*imi''%'--ik-'^'^^^''y}-'"' ' ."'"">'■ 

-*s «iifeii^ 




\w\^\'mWA^v^"w"^ '~_^ 



TRINJTy CHUKCH 



Revs. R. P. Clnis.oph,, J. L. „,,,.,^ 

James Marsiu,!!, !•:. s. Jamieson F J.' 

i;..scopc. A. F. Can.pbcll, C. S. Benson,' 

f ■ •^- ^«o'^-man, M. F. Con,],tun, S P 

-cy C. F. Sittcly, W. Jl J,,„, ,„, 

l^.C. Mooncy. The niembersliip .,f il„. 

clun-ch at present n.nnbers 1,4, i„clucl- 

'"•" l""batione,s. In connection witl, 

tl>'-- cluMcl, there is a Woman's Home 

Missionary Society; the Oucen Esther 

Circle of young ladies, organised for 

both home and foreign work; an Epworth 
I^eagueand a Junior League 

CT. MICHAEL'S R^an Catholic 
Church is situated on Elizabeth and 
Bloomingdale avenues. It was cstab 
''-•^iKxl in i<S;3. Services on Sunday at 
J I A. M. The present pastoi (s the 
Rev. J. p. Smith. 

"THERE is also the Baptist Church of 
the colored people which, likx- the 
people, is very thrifty and prosperous. 
Pastor Wallace officiates. 



^x. 










-iii'iS^SEo^., _ . 



THE METHODIST CIILKCH. 



CRANFORD SOUVENIR. 



'•; 



\l. 













iX' 



•i"iMUiUiii(i 



THE CRANFORD COINTRY CLUB. 






> .(, ,*«.<- !.> 



IN social advantages the town is well developed; 
there is a well-managed Country Club, with a pretty 
colonial clubhouse on the banks of the ri\-er; there 
are all kinds of societies connected with the churches, 
as well as those which are indcpemlent ; and there is a 
Dramatic Club of no mean ability. The Wednesday 
Morning Club (a book and literary association) is a 
very admirably directed instituticm. Then there are 
tennis, bicycling, baseball, bowling, an athletic and 
other clubs devoted to amateur sport, including 
a boating association. A thiifty Ivoyal Arcanum 
council and other lodges occup\' the lodge rooms in 
the Opera House Block, and a blight ami enterprising 
musical society — the Alcacus — furnishes delightful 
entertainments of an operatic and musical nature. 

ONE of the special charms of country life is to be 
within reach of a well-managed country club, 
where friends can be met and friends be made. Such 
social organizations as these have been the making of 
some of our most successful country places. Every 
year it is getting to be more fashionable to live in a 
thriving country town. Now the town to pick out 
must be one of easy access to the metropolis, one of 
unquestioned healthfuiness, and one that is wide-awake. 
Cranford can offer all these, and in its deliglitful 
Country Club, with the bowling, billiards, dances, 
games, dramatics, baseball, tennis, ])icycling, boating, 



etc., etc., can afford a \'ery important and additional 
charm. There is no one thing in the village that is 
more attractive to the newcomer than the pretty club- 
house up upon the bank of the river, and the warm 
welcome given by the members, who are always 
delighted to greet strangers. The club numbers a 
hundred members, and an especially nice feature is that 
the ladies — wi\es and daughters of the members — are 
always welcome. It is not necessary to break up 
home life when you go to the Countrj' Club — you can 
take it with \-ou. 



} 








% 










RKSUIKNCE JOH.N W. HANKER, ESQ. 



CRANFORD SOUVENIR. 
























RESIDEN'CE MRS. M. U. HENNEIT. 



THE Cranford Dramatic Club began its existence 
in 1S91, when "A Box of Monkeys" was played. 
This play was presented so successfully that the people 
of the new club felt much encouraged, and at once 
determined to attempt something more serious. The 
second effort, "Comrades," a well-developed and solid 
pla\', was presented, and scored a greater success than 
the first. "Our Regiment," given on Janaury 19, 1S93, 
was a much more difficult and higlier class play than 
either of the others, and the local actors proved that 
they could handle it with success. Then in 1893 
followed the farce "Rebecca and Rowena," wliich many 
people thought the greatest of all the work done by the 
club. The last play given was "Freezing a Mother- 
in-law," in which the club held up its reputation again. 
Everything done so far by the club has been the result 
of hard and faithful stutly; and has been accomplished 
witliout outside aid. The cffoits of the amateurs have 
given many pleasant hours to their friends, and earned 
many hundreds of dollars for worthy and charitable 
objects. 

THE Cranford Tennis Club (now merged into the 
Country Club) has produced some very clever 
players, and has organized several first-rate tourna- 
ments. There are a number of fine tennis courts in 



private grounds. The Baseball Club was a great suc- 
cess last year anil the year before, and this }-ear a per- 
manent baseball grountl will be established. The 
Bicycle Club, with numerous club runs, road races, and 
society meetings, was extremeh^ well patronized. On 
account of the miles of fine roads all around and about 
the town bicycling is not only a favorite amusement 
for both gentlemen and ladies, but the wheel is used 
largely for business purposes. 




RESIDENCE R. E. COCHRAN, ESQ. 



CRANFORD SOUVENIR. 








THE SOURCE OF THE RIVER. 



I ''ME first tlie writer ever heard of Cranford was 
^ back in iS8o, when his artist friend Bruce-Crane 
told him that he was packing up liis skctcliing appa- 
ratus and impedimenta preparatory to going to sk-etch 
in tlie neighborhood of Cranfonl. which he considered 
one of the most deliglitfully picturesque sections of 
country anywhere around or near New York Cit\-. 

Tile National iXcadcmy of Design, as well _^.-, , 

as other metropolitan art exhibitions, have 
contained many charming landscapes by sucli 
men as Bruce-Crane ;uid Bolton Jones, the 
material for which was gathered in Union 
Countw 

NnW'lIERE near New York can a more 
equable and moderate climate be found. 
It is just far enougli away and just high 
enougli to be free from sea fogs and tlamp- 
ncss, and \-et not so far as not to be in range 
of tlie cooling sea breezes which each evening 
set in from the ocean. The intense heat of 
summer is avcrteil by the fine trees and woods, 
and there is enough sharp winter to afford a 
few tlays' sk:ighi)ig and several good old-fash- 
ioned snow storms. 



TH 
re 



HE Boating Association has had charge of the 



;gattas on the river, and these, in years past, have 
been \-ery successful cntci tainments, esjiecially some 
of the canoe races. There is about a mile of good 
boating on the river. But the greatest work done by 
the association has been the organizing and carrying 
out of the Venetian carni\als, which occur usuallv on 



3V"-=^~333?5J7' 





THE RAU.KO.\D BRUJGE. 



CRANFORO SOUVENIR. 



a niitlsumnicr's nii^ht, and are p 
witliout question vei}- beauti- 
ful ami cIiarniiiiL;'. On these 
occasions the depths of the 
foliaLre and the trees alon<? the 
wind-iny ri\er banks are deco- i?'':' 
rated with myriails of lanterns 
of all shapes and colors, and 
the banks are ablaze witli %; " 
chemical fire and fireworks. 
The crowd thront^s the banks 
and the bridges; the bands 
play their sweetest strains: 
and the procession of beauti- 
fully and fantastically deco- ...,-- 
rated boats, peopled by Cran- ;%-- vji^ 
ford's prettiest girls and their IWf^ •- 
swains, gliiles in mysterious 
arra}- the entire navigable 
length of the stream and back. 

As many as ten thousand visitors have been present at a 
carnival, and it is impossible to be too enthusiastic over 
the beauty of this water pageant. The ri\'er, which is 
such a source of delight to boatmen in the summer, is 
in winter equally fascinating for the skaters. Some 



Vr.-'i>!-: ■W« :■.••'. i:,v 



^%^^ff^^S^^^^P^^ 




A oriET NOOK. 



winters there are as many as thirty days' good 
skating. One can fiiui no prettier picture than that 
of a winter's evening when the skaters glide to 
and fro past the many fires and beacons which are 
iiehted on the wooded banks. 




DOW.N Tlir. RIVER. 



10 



CRANFORD SOUVENIR. 







^^ 



,3 \ 







/_^ ^k^^;- ■,-*«* 



TWO CRANFORD AVENUE RESIDENCES. 



CRANFORD offers as many excellent qiinlifications 
and inducements in the line of improvements as 
any town within twenty miles of New York. It is sup- 
plied by the Union Water Company with an excellent 
quality of water for both fire and domestic purposes 
from the companj^'s inexhaustible artesian wells at 
Nethcruood. The streets and many of the residences 
are well lighted by electricity. The town has practi- 
cally no debt, and is very admirabi}' governed by a 
Townshi[) Committee. The drainage system is capi- 
tal ; there are good schools, several churches, a num- 
ber of shops and marlcets, and twent}'-sevcn trains 
every daj- to and back from New Ymk at short intervals 
on the very excellentl}- managed Central Railroad of 
New Jersey. A trolley line connecting Cranford with 
l'"dizabeth and I'lainfickl i ^ now projected, and the 
Lehigh Railroad offers facilities for tra\-el to New 
^^lrk to those who live on the south sitle. 

THE people who make up this little town are 
largely city people from New 'S'oik and P)rookl\-n, 
\vhieh accounts to a great extent fur the brilliant social 
gatherings, etc. Cranford is not a town with an uncer- 



tain future; its future and its success are already 
assured. It is not gi\'en up to booming by numer- 
ous real estate agents, and is remarkable for the steadi- 
ness of its prosperity and growth. For the past few 
years there liave been about the same number of new 
houses built each year, and consequent!}- the same 
number of newcomers arrive ycarlw It is a rare thing 
to find houses standing empty in this town. 

THE school advantages of the village are man\- and 
well regulated. The public school is under the 
control of the usual school board, superintendent, antl 
his assisting teachers. There are several well-managed 
private scliools, where music and the languages are 
taught, and during the winter season there arc dan- 
cing, physical cidture, and other schools. There is a 
free library, which circulates quite a large number of 
volumes and many magazines. 

AliRIGHT newspaper, the Cranford Clironiclc, 
deviites itself to the town news and general affairs 
in a fearless and independent manner. There arc 
Cranford notes in the Elizal)eth Erciiiiij^ Joiiriid/, and 
the New York papers are always on sale. 



CRANFORD SOUVENIR. 



II 



IN the Alcaeus Society Cranford possesses an amateur 
musical aiul operatic association of unusual merit. 
The society was organized about two years ago witii 
some thirty members, its object being the rendering of 
vocal music, the giving of light operas, and the social 
enjoyment of its members. So great has been its suc- 
cess that at the beginning of last season it was found i 
necessary to increase the limit of membcrsliii) to fifty. 
In addition to this the present active membership 
there are about one hundred subscribing members. 
The society has presented, altogether, ten operas, 
incUuling " Patience," ', Pirates," "Mikado," " lolanthe," 
and "Doctor of Alcantara," and with such phenomenal 
success that it has acquired a far-reaching reputation. 
The annual receptions of the Alcaeus Society, to 
which none but members and their friends can gain 
admission, are social events in tlie village each season. 
All of the entertainments of the society are given in 
the Opera House at Cranford, where it has its meeting 
and rehearsal rooms. 

The society closed its season this spring with a very 
delightful concert which, like all of its entertainments, 
was well attended b\- the elite of the town as well as 
that of neighboring towns. 



THE Wednesday Morning Club is made up of ladies, 
and by its literary efforts, the circulation of books 
and magazines, and the many lectures given under 
its auspices has made for itself a commendable and 
educating influence. The members number thirty odd, 
and all of the stantlard magazines are to be found in 
its circulation. 

CRANP'ORD is governed, as a township, by a 
Town Committee of five elected b\^ the resi- 
dents. There is also a Board of Health, a School 
Board, a Road Board, etc., etc. The taxes arc about 
as light as can be found in an}- suburban town wliere 
the assessor's valuation is equally low. 

AN excellently managed Building and Loan Associ- 
>■ ation is also to be found here, and from money 
loaneil by it some thirty houses have been built. 
The expense of building in Cranford is very moderate, 
and every year a number of comfortable homes are 
erected at costs varying from three tliousand dollars 
upward. 

THERE is first-class express, telephone, and tele- 
graph service, a good livery and boarding stable, 
and the town seems to be considered a very desirable 
location by all classes of good servants. 




RESIDENCE FRANK T. LENT. 



12 



CRANFORD SOUVENIR. 












'■i;^sa^ ,.' 




















i^SiliiSii^^^^^ 






RESIDENCK JOSEPH I'UKCELL, ESQ. 



THE Cranforcl IIotL-l, a thrcc-story brick structure ! ' I ''HERE are few tramps to be seen in Cranford. 

witii a frame annex, an<I the Central Hotel ' It is not in their line of migration evident!}-, 

accommodate the main biillc of the transient guests j There is no police force, nor any special use for any, 

in the town. Hampton Hall, u]i upon the bank of ! for robberies and drunkenness are very seldom heard 
the ri\ei' — a new colonial structure — accommodates 



quite a large number of guests and is a first-class 
family hostelr\-. There is also annthei- large boanl- 
ing house, known as the Fairleigh Villa, quite near 
the station, which offers tlie same class of liospitality. 
There are also a number of prix'ate boarding-houses, 
so that the large number of transient guests are easily 
accommodated. 




^■'7rM jX'L*«— E*«A^' ■ , ■* -^ 











nA>M-TON ItAI.I.. 




.^..■m'imp-?i"ii;i.'.'j(rjv,'.";,ii\i'iumriilinir j^-^f-'^^'-"' »• «- i^u- 

RESU)ENCE J. H. CUTHBERT, ESQ. 

of. The fire department is of volunteer service and well 
regulated. Cranford has no factories; the neighbor- 
ing town of Garwood offers accommodation for this 
class of business and its people. 



CRANFORD SOUVENIR. 



THE Cranford Athletic 
Club was organized last 
year and is now a good, healthy 
organization, matle up of young 
men who revel in the gj'mna- 
siuni and promise this \ear to 
be heard from in baseball and 
cycling. Next year, it is said, 
the club will put down bowling 
alleys and go in for that biancii 
of winter sport. 

It is also proposed to put 
down good tennis courts, aiul 
in the due course of time to 
develop all branches of athletic 
sports and games. 





llf^' 














li'-ii^ 









"Tt 



RESIDENCK GEO. G. ELY, ESQ. 






imW&M- ii 




M-irw? 






N' 


















P' 






RESIDENCE HENRY M. JACKSON, ESQ. 



O one man deserves more credit 

for building up the town than 

George G. Ely, Esq., who is the owner 

of six of the best designed houses built 

for investment purposes. Others lia\'e 

built as many houses, but they are 

princiijally of the pattern house style. 

iROMINENT among the pioneers 

of the town are the Bigelows, 

Alden I'l. and W'm. 1). Twenty years 

ago these gentlemen came to Cranford 

and settled down to develop a town. 

For all these years these men have 

given e\ery effort to this purpose, and 

THE Miller Block, a frame structure, adjoining the > to-day they own some of the most valuable property 
Opera House Block, accommodates some four or in the village. Over forty houses have been built by 
five shopkeepers; and there are now in contemplation | them— many of which have passed into the hands of 
for immediate erection several other business blocks, other residents. 

which will provide for Cranford an ample accommo- ! T ARGE tracts of building lots have been opened 
dation for all its business men. The other business , ^ up by Dr. AlacCnnnell. Edward Beadle, lienc- 
blocks in the town are the Jahn Pilock (now build- diet & Moodey, Gray & Van Deventer, James Rodgers, 
ing\ with three stores and four flats: the Rath Block and others here— each one having its one special 
(nor>' building), consisting of a store and four flats; 
and a half dozen similar edifices. There are also some 
other large projects for the erection of several mag- 
nificent residences and business blocks during this 
year. 



inducement to hold forth to the home seeker. 
Messrs. Styles and Cash own a fine piece of property, 
as does also G. W. Thomas. .Since January i, 1894, 
the real estate investment has reached at least 
§75,000. 



>4 



CRANFORD SOUVENIR. 




RESIDEN'CE H. \V. DESMOND, ESQ, 



>Sli1lljiW^;-(l!!!CTr^lS,;;l^(|l|||i»,jiiauj';^ 



THE prospective home seeker usually wishes to 
rent a place and live in it for a few months or so 
before deciding definitely whether it will be suitable 
for a future home. With the large majority of coun- 
try towns this would be a very wise plan to adopt, 
because before the lease ran out the tenant would 
probably be tired of it and sadly disappointeil ; but in 
Cranfortl an\' newcomer is perfectly safe to buy and 
build without making any such tiial trip. If land it 
has ne\'er occurred yet) the new resident should find 
himself disappointed and w ish to leave 
he would have no trouble in selling 
out at an advance. \W selecting a 
first-class town one has the advantage 
of the yearly rise in real estate; as 
the town gets larger and stronger so 
the value of [)roiierty increases. This 
is not the case with a large percentage 
of villages. It is far more connmrn to 
find \-alues falling off as soon as the 
booming ceases. During the jiast three 
years there have been many periods 
where towns in the \icinity of Cranford 
seemed to ha\'e come to a standstill — 
jjcriods when there was no building, no 
sale of real estate, and no improvement 
going on, yet Cranford has been stead- 
ily forging ahead. 



THE Camera Club is made up of a score of amateur 
photographers who are very skillful in their busi- 
ness. The many picturesque spots of the surrounding 
country' make this a \er\' interesting and infatuating 
amusement. Se\eral charming e\'ening entertainments 
have been gi\'en by this cUd) \\itli the aid of the stere- 
opticon, and in almost e\-er_\' home one finds a collec- 
tion of beautiful photographs by some of the club 
members. ]\Ian\- of the cuts herein are from photo- 
graphs by the chdj experts. 



-'^ 










-,ilWu ,. . . 

RESIDENCE T. W. SUTTON, ESQ. 



CRANFORD SOUVENIR. 



15 



THE careful manner in which the 
lawns, grounds, and gardens are 
handled goes a good way toward mak- 
ing the town attractive. Fences have, 
to a great extent, disappeared, and the 
grounds run into each other in park 
fashion. The attention given to trees, 
hedges, and flower beds is \cr}- com- 
mendable, as is also the case with ecjui- 
pages and iiorses, as the town is in the 
midst of many miles of good roails, 
and great interest is taken in driving. 
Of late one of the interesting moments 
ill the dail\' routine of town affairs is 
the arrival of the New Yurk-rhiladel- 
phia coach. Fresh horses are put on 
here on the coaches going cither way, 
and the ga\' parties have a moment to 
look around and inspect the town. 

THE fine roads which offer inducements to horse- 
men are also very alluring to wheelmen, and the 
town is at the west end of the well-known Elizabeth- 
Cranford ten-mile road-race track, where man}- of the 
bic}-cle flyers have made great records. As many as 
fi\-e hundred wheelmen per day from other towns have 
been counted as they passed through. 










m:s^^ 






RESIDENCE GEORGE G. TELLER. 




RESIDENCE E. C. RUUERTS, ESQ. 



WHEN one is selecting a suburban location it is 
natural to inquire about the men who make up 
the town. What class of men are tlie\'? What arc 
their \'ocations? A very satisfactory answer to these 
can be made as far as the men of Cranford are con- 
cerned. There are writers and authors; first-class doc- 
tors (both the practicing and preaching kinds); many 
college men; men of tra\el and men of leisure. Some 
of New York's brightest brokers, bankers, and business 
men may be found in the list of commuters of this town. 
The New York Stock and other exchanges are repre- 
sented, the ocean steamship lines, banks, insurance 
companies, and hundreds of great business houses. If 
it was possible to make an accurate estimate of the 
worth and salaries of the men of Cranf(u-d. and com- 
pare it with similar estimates of the men vi other 
towns, it would probably show that Cranford men were 
worth more and earned more than those of any similar 
town. These are the kiiul of people out of which to 
make a town; they aie jjrogressive, active, and alert 
for every possible advantage or improvement ; and it is 
because of their vigilance and keen interest that Cran- 
ford is to-day so far ahead of her sister towns. 

As for the better halves of these men one has only 
to look at the social life here to become satisfied that 
the ladies are of a superior class. 



i6 



CRANFORD SOUVENIR. 




RliSIDENXE A. II. I'UMMER, ESQ. 



IF any suburban town is entitled to a great future 
Cranfnnl is. The most conservative man could not 
liesitatc to agree that the town will grow during the 
next year at least as much as it has during the past 
year, anil that is all that is necessary to [)rove to any- 
one the future of the place. For if the increase in 
popuhitinn, in money invested, anil in new buildings 
continues in the same latio as it has fur the past year 
or two Cranford will be twice its present size in 1899. 
The last two years has shown a great improvement in 
the character, style, and cost of the houses and build- 
ings which have been erected. Most of the buildings 
illustrated herein arc recent, and they tell their own 
story. The j^ast year has seen two excellent homes 
built here, one in\-olving a cost of twenty and the 
other of thirt_\- thousand dollars. These two invest- 
ments show clearly that newcomers ha\'e confidence in 
the future of the town. 

If the place has all that Nature can do for it together 
with all that bright, enterprising, and progressive resi- 
dents have done, what more can be expected? Not- 
withstanding these paragraphs and sketches one must 
see the town for one's self in order to thoroughly 
appreciate what is really here and what delightful 



homes are possible in this the queen village among 
other suburban places. 

HALF of the new town of Garwood is within the 
boundaries of Cranford Township, and it is here 
that the great work's of the "C. &. C. Motor Co." and 
"The Ilall .Signal Co." are located. The Garwood 
Land and Improvement Co. is the projector of this 
town scheme and the success of the town is already 
assured. A }-ear ago Garwood was an undexxloped 
wild. To-day it is full of the hum and whiz of a 
"o-ahead town. 




■*y.* - -^' * ^- '■ ..i.. ^*— ^G?^^ . ;|ir:^, 

RESIDENCE 1-R.\NK I'.VRVIN, ESQ. 



FAIRLEIGH VILLA, 

CRANFORD. N. J. 

Central Railroad of New Jersey. 

Large rooms ; modern conveniences ; near station; pine 
groves : air beneficial to throat and lung diseases ; open all 
winter. 

E. A. MUNOZ. 



FIRST NATIONAL BANK 



G. B. DOTY, 



OF IVBSTFIELD, N. J. CUSTOM TAILOR. 



A. D. Cook, Pros. - C. G. Endicott, V.-Pres. 

R. H. Cook, Cashier. 
CAPITAL STOCK, - - - £50,000. 



Opera House Block, 

CRANFORD, N. J. 



J. M. C. MARSH, 

AUCTIONEER, 

WESTFIELD, - NEW JERSEY. 
Office : First National Bank Building. 



WM D BIGELOW ' J- ^^- goodliffe, 
REAL ESTATE, and furnace work 



Cranford. 



Agent for Graff & Co.'s Furnaces & Ranges. 
, . . I Opposite Guyon's Bicycle Emporium, 

NEW JERSEY. (^[^^^PQI^D, - NEW JERSEY. 



DAVID B. LENT, Real Estate, Insurance, Loans, Etc., 
Opera House Block, - CRANFORD, N. J. 



AGENT FOR 



Furnished and Unfurnished Homes 

LARGE AND SMALL, TO LET, THE NORTHERN ASSURANCE CO, 

FOR LONG OR SHORT TERMS. 



OF LONDON 

And Other equally strong companies, both Fireand Life, 



PROPERTIES IN GARWOOD, 
WESTFIELD, and all of the neighbor- 
ing towns for SALE and to LET. 
Several excellent farms and country seats. 



LANSLEY BUSINESS COLLEGE, 

ELIZABETH, N. J. jo years teaching. Shorthand. A position for every graduate. Circulars free. Call and see us 



CENTRAL RAILROAD 

OF 



NEW JERSEY. 



•»0^0" 



Anthracite Coal used exclusively, insur- 
ing cleanliness and comfort. 

^.o^.. 

TRAINS FROM CRANFORD TO X. Y. 

A. M.— 3.53, 5.53, 6.47, 7.16, 7.47, 8.17, 
3.32, g.04, 9.48, 10.43, 1223 (noon), p. M. — 
I. 31, 2.45, 4.iS, 5.07, 6.12, 7.19, 9.09, 9.43, 
10.32, 11.44. 

TRAINS ARRIVE FROM N. V 

A. M. — 1.52, 5.27, 6.52, 8.00, 9.23, 10.44, 
12,28 (noon), p. M. — r.52, 2.17, 3.11, 3.27, 
4.16, 4.49, 5.19, 5.47, 5. 58, 6.17, 6.47. 6.58, 
7.1S, 7.51, S.52, 9.21, 10.10, 10.52, 12.22. 

K . B. — Time>table June 20, :894. 



THE CENTRAL 

Building and Loan Association, 

Meets the third Wednesday of each month. 

For particulars apply to FRANK T. LEN'T. Cranford, 
or F. W. MORSE, Westficld. 



P IERSON B ROTHERS, 

HIGH-CLASS 

PHOTOGRAPHY. 

Makers of Picture Frames. 
84 Broad St, Elizabeth, N. J. 



PHILIP j, BINDENBERGER, 
OPERA STABLE, 

CRANFORD, NEW JERSEY. 

A First-class Livery and Boarding Stable. 
OFFICE : OPPOSITE STATION. 



EVERETT & PIERSON, 
MASONS and BUILDERS, 

Cranford, New Jersey. 

Contractors for the Jahn Block, the Rath Block, and a 
dozen other buildings. 

M. F. WHEELER, 

DEALER IN 

LAKE HOPATCONG ICE. 

Leave Orders at Irving's Market. 

JOHN M. CRANE, 

DEALER IX 

FINE FAMILY GROCERIES, 
Crockery, Glassware, Flour, Feed, Grain, etc, 

CRANFORD, NEW JERSEY. 

HOFFMAN, 
The Opera House Barber, 

] CRANFORD, N. J. 

i My place is at head of stairs in Opera House Block. 

j FIRST-CLASS WORK ONLY. 

I Special attention to Ladies and Children. 



JOHN j. SCHMITT, 

Pies, Pastry, Bread, Etc., 

WESTFIELD, N. J. 

Remember my Wagon goes to Cranford 
twice every day. 



BALL & LESLIE. 
NURSERYMEN & IMPORTERS, 

WESTFIELD. N. j. 

FRUIT, SHADE, AND ORNAMENTAL TREES, 

Roses, Gr.apevines, & H.ardy 

Shrubs of all kinds are our Specialties. 

^^ Nursery on Springfield Road, i;.- 
miles from Westfield. 



CRANFORD OPERA HOUSE. 

To Rent for Balls, Parties, Receptions, 
Public Meetings, Etc. 

FOR TERMS APPLY TO 

E. BEADLE, Jr., Manager. 

JAMES P. GILLOGLY. 
Carpenter and Builder, 

Cranford, New Jersey. 

RESIDENCE: ORCHARD STREET. 
Jobbing promptly attended to. 



FIRST NATIONAL BANK 

OF ELIZABETH, N. J. 



Cranford Meat Market. 

J. N. IRVING, 



W. p. Thompson, Pres. I E. L. Tillou, Cnshr. Dealer in CHOICE BEEF, MUTTON, LAMB, 

PORK, VEAL, POULTRY, PROVISIONS, etc. 



Capitar Stock, 
Surplus, 



s 200,000. 

S 1 68,300. 



HAMPTON HALL 

Mrs. F. E. BATES, 



Cranford, 



New Jersey. 



(See page 12O 



Read the CRANFORD CHRONICLE. 



FEARLESS 



BRIGHT. 



PROGRESSIVE. 
Devoted to the news, interests, and people of a 
thriving town. 

JOHN ALFRED POTTER, 

Editor and Proprietor. 



OPERA HOUSE BLOCK. - Next door to Post Office. 
CRANFORD, N. J. 




FRANK T. LENT, Architect, 
Opera House Block, - CRANFORD, N. J. 

Architect for a hundred of the best buildings in Union 
County, N. J., including the Opera House Block (see 
cover), the Diimont. Imhorst, Rodgers. Banker, Cochran 
Houses, Hampton Hall, and Country Club, herein illus- 
trated. 



HARTS PHARMACY. 

W. J. HART, 

Opera House Block, 

CRANFORD, N. J. 



R. G. LAGGREN, 
AWNING DEPOT, 

C. R. R. Building, ELIZABETH, N. J. 

Residence Awnings, Flags, Tents, 

Window Shades, etc. 

Maker of the majority of the Awnings in this vicinity. 



ELECTRO-LIGHT ENGRAVING CO.. 

Cor. Rose, Pearl & New Chambers Streets, 

NEW YORK. 

Makers of all Engravings in Mr. Lent's pttbiications. 



DAVID B. LENT, Real Estate, Insurance, Loans, 



Opera House Block, 



CRANFORD, NEW JERSEY. 



AGENT FOR HOME INSURANCE CO. OF NEW YORK. 

HOUSES (Furnished and Unfurnished) FOR SALE and TO LET, and Agent for the Choicest Building Lots 

in town at bottom prices. 

Lots For Sale in MacCONNELL'S ADDITION, GRAY & VAN DE VENTER'S ADDITION, 

" ROOSEVELT MANOR," BEADLE'S ADDITION, And in all locations. 



"SOUND SENSE IN SUBURBAN ARCHITECTURE" 
^^° "SENSIBLE SUBURBAN RESIDENCES." 

Two New, Valuable, and Popular Books on House Building. Cloth. loo 
pages each. PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED with Plans, Sketches, etc., of 

Houses Actually Built by an Architect who for twelve years has made a ■^^■J^ _._„^,^_ _ 

Special Study of Suburban Architecture. M| HI PiilpM [HSBfJ 

These books contain practical and artistic information, and will save i?^75^4f4l^&iS- -iP^^^^^^ 

many times their cost to anyone intending to build. -■'":■- rs.:i^^li^^.^^^;;j^-^' 




Circulars Containing Revieivs and Description on Application. 



SENT, POSTPAID, TO ANY ADDRESS FOR ONE DOLLAR EACH. 

FRANK T. LENT, - - - Suburban Architect, 

CRANFORD, NEW JERSEY. 



CHARLES GRANVILLE JONES. 

ARCHITECT, 

280 Broadway, - NEW YORK. 

^^ Architect for the Presbyterian Church 



1,1 ih,. riv Ho 



'See page 13.) 



JOHN WATERSON. 

CARPENTER and BUILDER, 

Residence and Shop: Central Ave. and Sixth St., jFINE FAMILY GROCERIES. 



JOHN L. DERBY, 

DEALER IS 



CRA.NFORD, N. J. 

Office : Room 4, Opera House Block. 



Opera House Block (Adjoining Post OiBce), 
Cranford, New Jersey. 



iiii 

1! 
I 




iU'.:A'' ! 'Wi 



